At the end of a tumultuous week when he has been widely condemned for his political views, Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio was on Thursday trying to concentrate on his new club’s Barclays Premier League survival.

The Italian head coach will attempt to pull off an unlikely win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to steer Sunderland away from the bottom three.

Di Canio said: 'As a manager, it is my first time at the top, I mean the very top level.This is a fantastic achievement for me and my staff, and it is a consequence of what we have done in the past.

Controversial: Paolo Di Canio's appointment has caused uproar among fans and those opposed to fascism